VerdaCrypt ransomware (virus) - Recovery Instructions Included

What is VerdaCrypt ransomware?

VerdaCrypt appends your files with .verdant extension and prevents them from being opened

VerdaCrypt ransomware is an evil malware that encrypts victims' data, making it impossible to access, and demands payment to decrypt. It tags encrypted files using the.verdant extension and is thus known as Verdant ransomware for some people.

The ransom message,!!!_READ_ME_!!!.txt, is deposited in various locations such as the desktop or affected folders, instructing victims to contact attackers through encrypted platforms like Protonmail (in this case, the contact provided is dendrogaster_88095@protonmail.com) and requesting payment in Bitcoin. In some cases, the attackers also threaten to leak private files if the victim refuses to pay, which is a common scare tactic known as double extortion.

The ransom warning threatens to erase data or release it if the ransom is not paid. VerdaCrypt ransomware uses strong encryption, so unauthorized decryption is basically impossible without the key of the attackers.
Below, we will provide more details on this threat and inform you how to remove it.

How VerdaCrypt ransomware spreads

VerdaCrypt ransomware can be infected on a system through various means, with most of them reliant on tricking users into opening infected files. The most common of these is through infected emails with attachments or links to dangerous websites. These are typically structured to look like urgent mail from banks, courier services, or even government institutions, with this causing people to click without hesitation.

Users commonly get infected through downloading files from untrustworthy websites or file-sharing platforms. Users might accidentally install the VerdaCrypt virus through their attempts to download cracked software together with pirated media or fake updates for legitimate programs. The ransomware starts its background encryption after the harmful file executes.

Cybercriminals might also use exploit kits or malvertising, which are sneaky ways of delivering malware through ads or website vulnerabilities. These methods don’t always require the user to click on anything—just visiting an infected site could be enough to trigger the attack if the system is not properly protected.

Because the VerdaCrypt virus uses deceptive tactics to get into systems, users often don’t realize anything is wrong until their files are already encrypted, and the ransom note appears.

The ransom note reveals the attacker's intentions

VerdaCrypt ransomware communicates with victims through the ransom note that it leaves on infected systems. The purpose of the ransom note functions as an attack declaration while detailing file modifications and warning victims about payment-related consequences. Different ransomware groups use varying tones in their ransom notes but their shared purpose remains to force victims into paying ransoms for their data retrieval.

Below is the full ransom note dropped by the .Verdant file virus, typically named !!!READ_ME!!!.txt:

Y O U R D I G I T A L E X I S T E N C E H A S B E E N C O M P R O M I S E D.

INTRUSION PROTOCOL: VERDACRYPT – INITIATED.

Your critical infrastructure has suffered a catastrophic security event. A sophisticated cryptoviral payload, designated VerdaCrypt, has successfully breached your system's perimeter and executed a multi-layered encryption cascade. All sensitive data, including but not limited to proprietary documents, personal archives, multimedia assets, and databases, are now rendered cryptographically inert and irretrievable without our intervention.

ONTOLOGICAL DILEMMA: DATA SOVEREIGNTY & THE TRANSCENDENCE OF VALUE.

Consider this not merely an act of digital extortion, but a stark ontological reassessment of your data's intrinsic worth. In this hyper-connected, late-capitalist paradigm, information is the ultimate commodity. You have operated under the illusion of control, hoarding digital wealth without acknowledging its inherent precarity. We are the catalysts of disruption, forcing a necessary reckoning with the ephemeral nature of digital sovereignty. Your data, now under our dominion, will only regain utility through a transactional exchange – a tribute to its true, albeit previously unacknowledged, value.

RECOVERY PROCEDURE: THE PATH TO DIGITAL REBIRTH.

While your current digital state is one of enforced entropy, a path to restoration exists. We possess the asymmetric decryption keys necessary to reverse the algorithmic entropy we have imposed. However, access to this vital instrument is contingent upon your adherence to the following directives:

1. SYSTEMIC QUIESCENCE MANDATORY: Cease all unauthorized remediation attempts. Any interference with the encrypted file system may induce irreversible data corruption and invalidate any potential for decryption. Further, any attempts at forensic analysis or network tracing will be met with escalated countermeasures.

2. SECURE CHANNEL ESTABLISHMENT VIA PROTONMAIL: Initiate encrypted communication through the Protonmail platform. Contact us at: dendrogaster_88095@protonmail.com. Utilize a separate, uncompromised device for this communication.

3. FINANCIAL TRANSCENDENCE PROTOCOL: Prepare for a financial exchange commensurate with the value you ascribe to your compromised data. Detailed payment instructions, including the precise Bitcoin (BTC) quantum required for decryption key acquisition, will be provided upon initial contact. Be advised: the value proposition is dynamic and subject to escalation based on temporal delays and perceived resistance.

CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE: DIGITAL OBLITERATION.

Failure to adhere to these directives will result in the permanent cryptographic lockdown of your data assets. Furthermore, depending on the perceived recalcitrance and value of the exfiltrated data, we may initiate a phased data dissemination protocol, exposing your proprietary information to public and competitive vectors. Your digital legacy hangs in the balance.

VerdaCrypt – Kugutsushi subdivision.

The note uses complex language to appear sophisticated and to instill fear. Attackers emphasize the seriousness of the situation, framing the attack as not only a breach but also a kind of twisted moral lesson about data ownership. This approach is meant to intimidate victims and make them feel powerless, encouraging them to act quickly and follow instructions without question.

It’s important not to fall for these scare tactics. Victims should avoid contacting the attackers or paying any ransom. There is no guarantee that files will be restored after payment, and doing so only fuels the criminal operation. Instead, it's recommended to seek expert advice, report the incident to local authorities, and begin safe removal steps to eliminate the ransomware from the system — which we’ll cover in the next sections.

VerdaCrypt malware removal should be handled with care

After a system becomes infected with VerdaCrypt ransomware the immediate removal of malicious files should become the main objective. The virus encrypts files but it can also maintain its activity through hidden components which enable it to reinstall itself. Regular users should avoid manual removal of malware because it presents both safety risks and ineffectiveness when performed without complete knowledge of malware operations.

We advise users to clean their system through a reliable anti-malware scan of the infected computer. The tools SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes possess capabilities to detect and eliminate components of ransomware which include hidden executables and scripts and malicious registry entries. These tools serve as real-time protection that helps stop future infections while cleaning the system.

In some cases, system settings or Windows files might get damaged during the attack. That’s where a system repair tool such as FortectIntego can be especially helpful. It can assist in restoring essential components and resolving system errors that may prevent the computer from functioning properly after the infection is removed.

If you're not experienced with cybersecurity tools, using professional software is the safest route to ensure that VerdaCrypt is completely eliminated without causing additional issues.

Can .verdant files be restored?

Decryption of files locked by VerdaCrypt ransomware proves to be a complex task when encryption is properly executed. This particular strain of VerdaCrypt ransomware lacks any public decryption tool at the present time. The victims cannot recover their files unless the attackers made mistakes during encryption since the decryption key remains under their control.

Some users might try using third-party tools such as Data Recovery Pro. While this software can sometimes recover files (particularly if the ransomware failed to fully encrypt them or left behind recoverable file copies) it's not a guaranteed solution. It’s most useful in scenarios where the original data was only partially affected or where shadow copies were not completely erased.

In addition to trying recovery methods, it's strongly recommended to report the ransomware attack to your local law enforcement agency or national cybercrime center. Providing information about the incident can help authorities track the group behind VerdaCrypt and might assist with future decryption efforts if a solution becomes available later. Here are a few links you might find useful:

• USA – Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3
• United Kingdom – ActionFraud
• Canada – Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
• Australia – ScamWatch
• New Zealand – ConsumerProtection
• Germany – Polizei
• France – Ministère de l'Intérieur

If your country is not listed above, you should contact the local police department or communications center.